In an unlikely marriage of interests, a Nashville state senator wants the legislature to create a NASCAR-themed specialty license plate that would benefit the financially strapped Tennessee State Museum. Proceeds, under Sen. Douglas Henry’s plan, would be shared between the Bristol Motor Speedway Children’s Charity and the Nashville museum. The museum is looking for funds after losing $225,800 to budget cuts, including $92,100 that it said it needed to buy artifacts to preserve the state’s history. The union with NASCAR is not that unnatural, according to museum Executive Director Lois Riggins-Ezzell, who hatched the idea. The museum helped build the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame at the Gaylord Entertainment Center and owns the sports collection there, she said. Jeff Byrd, president and general manager at Bristol Motor Speedway, said he is working with NASCAR to work out a licensing agreement. If NASCAR requires a licensing fee, the plate probably would replace ”NASCAR” with ”Race Fan” and a checkered flag or something similar, Byrd said. If NASCAR agrees to drop its licensing fee, Byrd would like to design several plates featuring top NASCAR drivers.( Tennessean )(4-23-2003)
